Game apparatus



Dec. 28, 1937. D. c. RocKoLA j 1 2,103,870

GAME APPARATUS f *Filled Aug. 2:5,1 1955 3 sheets-sheet 1 v /l/l//l /////////////V//l///MM/f/M//d/aY/w /////////l/// I INV ENTOR.

Nm 'H15 ATTORNEY 5a Dec. 2s, 1937.

D. C. ROCKOLA GAME APPARATUS y Filed Aug. 25, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 2 Dec. l28,4 1931.

. D. C.' ROQKOLA GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

' i thereover.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS of 'Delaware Application August 23, 1935, Serial No. 37,423

4 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus;

It is an object or" this invention to` provide an improved" game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and effiv cient in use. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for use in conjunction with game apparatus of the so-called pin and marble game type and bymeans of which an audible signal and a visible signal may be simultaneously actuated by a played ball in such a manner as to represent or simulate a hunter shooting game, that is, the visible signalk represents the light which is incidental to the discharge of a gun and the audible signal represents the report or sound made by the discharge of the gun.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of Vparts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will best be understood byreference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred orm of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof a game apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a verticalv longitudinal sectional View, on line 2--2 in Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is a view on line 3F3'in Fig. 2, partly in side ,elevation Vand. partlyV in, section;

Fig. 4 isa sectional detail' view of `one of theV ball-receiving pockets and associated switches embodied `inthe invention;`

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional. view, on line 5-5 in Fig.,2;

Fig. 6 is aview'on line 6-6 in Fig. 5, partly in top'. plan and .partly in section; Y

Fig. *his a sectional view on line 'l-'I in Fig. 5; Fig. 8'is a sectional viewlon line 8-8 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit embodied in the invention.

Agame apparatus embody-Inga preferred form of the present invention as shown in the drawings, is therein generally indicated. at I0, and comprisesY a-.cabinety II which includes an inclined playing board I2 which is provided with pockets or openings I3 of which there are a percentage of scorevopenings I4. lThe front wall of the cabinet II supports a coin slide lli, a ball elevatingplunger I'I and a'ballprojecting plunger I8. The plunger I8 is adapted to project balls along an inclined runway I9 into the upper end of the inclined playing board I2Sfforl gravitation (c1. 27s-11s) The cabinet II likewise includes a slide panel which isslidably mounted adjacent, and paral-lelto the lowersurface of the inclined play board I2 mounted upon the slide panel 20. BeA low, thescore openings I4, are score andlink switches I5 and 2| respectively, both of which arey constructed so that normally their resilientA fingers are separated or ineffective, and both of which, when a ball is seated in their corresponding pocket I4 are in connected or eective position forvreasons to be described presently. The coin slide I5 is engageable with an angle 'I6 depending from the slide panel 20 so as to urge the latter froml left to right (Fig. 2) upon the insertion ofthe coin'slide. Y n

Forwardly of the out openings I3, score openings I4 and the master opening 59, upon `the same longitudinal axis with the latter, (Fig. 2) are corresponding openings TI in the slide panel 20.

An inclined ball return runway 22 is also includedY in the cabinet. I I andv has at its lower endV a transverse runway 23 which directs the balls to a ball elevatorV (not shown) which lifts the balls into the inclined ball runway I9 at the lower end thereof adjacent the plunger I8.

Likewise included in the cabinet I I is a control unit, generally indicated as 24. This control unit 2liy among other things consists of a supporting framey 25, an electromagnet 26, a dash pot 21,.a supervisory switch 28 and a master control switch 29, a serrated laterally slidable arm 30 and a. resetting lever 3|.

The supporting frame of the control unit 24 is mounted upon a vertical wall of the cabinet II and 'is spaced from the lower Wall 48 of the cabinet II for reasons to be described presently.

The dash pot 21 is mounted upon a 'vertical wall of the supporting frame 25, and mounted in the dash pot 21, for'slidable movement thereto, is the serrated laterally slidable arm 33, which is urged away from the dash pot 2l by a tension spring 32! that has one end thereof attached to the slidable arm and the other end anchored intothe supporting frame 25.

The switches 28 and 29 are mounted upon a 28 is effective relative to the electrical circuit 15 shown in Fig. 9.

The laterally slidable arm 30 which has one end thereof slidably mounted in the pash-pot 21 has an end portion 31 which extends laterally relative to the long axis thereof--and which is offset from the latter for parallel movement thereto. This end portion 31 consists of a pair of notches indicated as A and B for a reason to be hereinafter explained.

Mounted adjacent the end portion 31, upon the serrated slidable arm 30, and extending laterally therefrom, is a roller 38. Engageable with the roller 38, upon horizontal movement thereof, is a curved end portion 39 of a resilient finger 40 of the switch 29. The switch 29 is normally disposed in ineffective position as shown in the schematic diagram (Fig. 9) with the curved end portion 39 of the resilient finger 4I] out of engagement with the laterally extending roller 38.

Pivotally mounted upon the magnet 26 as at 4I is an armature 42 and mounted between its ends upon the armature 42, for pivotal movement therewith is an arm 43 normally having one end portion 44 disposed to latchingly engage the notch A in the laterally extending end portion 31 of the slidable arm 38. The armature is normally urged into the position shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 by a tensioned spring 45. The opposite end portion 45 of the arm 43 has a solid element 41 depending therefrom which is engageable with a strike plate 49 mounted upon the lower wall 48 of the cabinet II.

The resetting lever 3i is pivotally mounted between its ends as at 50 and has an end portion 5I which is engageable with the lateral offset of the end portion 31 which forms the end of the laterally sli-dable member 30. The other end portion 52 (upper end Figs. 5 and '1) is bent at a right angle and carries a tubular member 53 which forms a bearing for, and is engageable with, an angle 54 which depends from the slide panel 29 for movement therewith.

Mounted upon the back wall of the cabinet II is a so-called light-up board 55 which comprises a transparent member 56 behind which are mounted light bulbs 51. In the present invention there is depicted upon the transparentl member 56 an animal charging a hunter with a gun in firing position. Directly behind the end of the muzzle of the gun, depicted upon the transparent member 56, is a bulb 58 for a reason to be hereinafter explained. Likewise upon the transparent member 56 are score indicating areas 6! depicting other animals and behind each of these areas are groups of light bulbs 51 for reasons to be Yhereinafter explained.

One of the openings I3 in the incline-d play board I 2 is a so called master opening 59 which, similar to the score openings I4, has a master ball switch 60 associated therewith which in turn is mounted upon the slide panel 28.

Referring to Fig. 9 in which a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit 15 is illustrated, 62 indicates a circuit which consists of a source of energy E3, in the form of a battery of dry cells,

the switches 2| arranged below the score openings I4 and the corresponding lights 51, arrange-d in the light up board 55 behind the transparent member 55 in the latter.

The electrical circuit 15 also consists of a .cir-

cuit 64 which includes a source of energy 55, in'

The light 58 in turn is connected to one side of the electromagnet 26 by a conductor 51 and the opposite side of the electromagnet 26 is connected to the opposite side of the source of energy 55 by a conductor 68. The switch 65 has one side thereof connected to the conductor 66 by a conductor 69, and the opposite side thereof connected to one side of the switch 28 by a conductor 10. switch 28 is connected to the side of the electromagnet 26, where the conductor 51 enters the latter, by a conductor 1I.

Each of the group of switches 2I, corresponding to the` group of switches I5 and lights 51 which in'turn correspond with the area 5I depicted on the transparent member 55, are connected in series 12, one side of which is connected to the switch 5I] by the conductor 15 and the opposite side of which is connected to the resilient n'ger 4D of the switch 29 by a conductor 13. The opposite side of the switch 29 being connected to the end of the conductor 61 which is connected to the one side of the electromagnet 26 by a conductor 14.

Operation The following example will describe, more clearly, the operation of the game apparatus, but it is to be understood that the game operates successfully several Ways, and that the invention is not confined within one example.

Upon projecting a ball up the inclined runway I9 to be gravitate-d along the play board I2 it is to be assumed that the ball has come to rest within the master opening 59, upon the master ball switch 60 disposed therebelow. The switch 6U will thereby become effective to close the circuit 64, whereupon current will flow from the source of energy 65 through the conductors 85 and 59 into the switch 6G, thence through the conductor 18 into the supervisory switch 28 which has the angled end portion 34 of the resilient finger 35 normally disposed in the notch 35 of the serrated slidable arm 30, in which position the switch 28 is eective, whereupon current will ow through the conductors 'Il and 81 into the one side of the electromagnet 25, and from the opposite side of the latter through the conductor 58 back into the source of energy 65.

The foregoing flow of current will thereupon set up magnetism in the electromagnet 25 at which time the latter will be in circuit with the light 58, positioned behind the gun muzzle which is depicted on the transparent member 55. The

electromagnet 25 will thereupon attract the moving element or armature 42 and the arm 43 mounted thereon from full to dotted line position (Fig. 5) forcing the solid element 41 mounted at the end 45 thereof against they strike plate 49 which is fastened to the bottom wall 48 of the cabinet II. 'I'he bottom wall 48 being a form of a sound board,will thereby set up an audible alarm simulating the report of a gun. The pivoting of the armature 42 and the arm 43 from full to dotted line, at 4I (Fig. 5) will likewise disengage the end portion 44 of the arm 43 from latching engagement with the notch A in the laterally offset end portion 31 of the slidable arm 30. Whereupon the slidable arm 35 will be urged from left to right (Fig. 7) by the spring 32 causing the angled end 34 of the resilient linger 35 to ride out of the notch 35 (from full to dotted line) thereby rendering the switch 28 in an ineffective position, and breaking the circuit 64.

The opposite side 35-34 of thev The magnetic attraction of the electromagnet to the armature 42 will thereupon be terminated and the circuit to-the light 58 will be broken. Whereupon the resetting spring 45 will return the armature 42 and the arm-43m initial position (from dotted to full line, Fig. 5) so that the end portion 44 of the arm 43 will latchingly engage the slidable member 3|] against the action of the spring 32, by entering into the notch B in the laterally offset end portion 31 of the slidable member 30. It being understood that the foregoing example will be enacted as quickly as the electrical current can pass through the circuit 64, Vand thatthe Aflash of the light 58 is simultaneous to they audible alarm` caused by the solid element 41 striking the plate 49 thereby creating the effect of a firing of the gun depicted on the transparent member 56.

The laterally slidable arm 39 being thus latched with the end portion 44 of the arm 43 in engagement with the notch B in the laterally offset end portion 31 thereof, (as shown in Fig. 8), will cause the roller 38 extending therefrom to engage the curved end portion 39 of the resilient finger 40, whereupon the latter will be urged into engagement with the opposite finger of thev master control switch 29 thereby rendering the switch 29 effective.

With the parts ci the device in a position with the roller 38 holding the switch 29 in effective position, it becomes the object of the person playing the game to project balls along the inclined runway I9 onto the upper end of the inclined play board I2 and skillfully cause a t; ball to be entrapped ineach of the score openings I4 which Yconstitute a particulargroup corresponding to thelight bulbs 51 associated with one ofthe areas 6I depicted upon the transparent member 56. Upon skillfully projecting a ball into each of the said score openings I4 the corresponding score and link switches I5 and 2| will become effective, whereupon they light associated with each of the switches I5 will complete a circuit from the source of energy 63.`

However, the series 12 of switches 2| will not become effective until each of the link switches 2| are Yheld in eiective position by a ball resting in each of the corresponding score openings I4 to open the circuit 64, whereupon current will flow from the source of energy 65 into the conductors 66 and 69 through the switch (already having aball resting thereon) into the conductor 19 and through the -series12 of switches 2|, into the conductor 13 which directs the current into the resilient nger 48 of -the control switch 29 (which is at this time in effective position), thence through the conductors 14-61 into one side of the electromagnet 26 and vfrom the opposite side thereof vthrough the conductor 68 back into the source of energy 65. Whereupon light 58 is illuminated and the electromagnet will again attract the armature 42 and the arm 43 carried thereby to pivot at 4l from full to dotted line position (Fig. 5) and cause the ,solid element 41 to strike the plate 49 and create an audible alarm as before. Likewise the end portion 44 of the arm 43 will move from full to dotted line position (Fig. 5) disengaging'the portion 44 from latching engagement in the notch B in the laterally offset end portion 31 of the laterally slidable arm 30. VVhereupon the spring 32 will urge the laterally slidable arm 3|) from right to left (Fig. 8) during which movement the roller 38 will pass to the left of the curved end portion 39 of"theresilientnger 40, and allow the latter to vassume its natural orinitialiposition.

Withthe finger 40C in its initial position f the master Ycontrol switch y29 is rendered ineffective and the current `will cease flowing. TheV electromagnet .26 willv release the armature 42 andthe spring 45` will move theflatter into full line position.l

The end portion 31 of the laterally slidable arm: 38 willl be to the right (Fig. 7) of the end portion 44 of the armY 43 andwill not be latched against the action of the spring 32.

The. angled end portion 34 ofthe resilient iinger 35 will thereupon move into engagement with one of the notches in the serrated edge of the slidable member 30, whereupon the switch 28 will become effective and cause current to flow through the-circuit 64 from the source of energy 65 into the conductors 66` and'69, through the switch 6U, thence into the conductor 1l), through theswitch 28 into the conductors 1I and 61, vthence through the electromagnet 26 and ther conductor 68 back into the source of energy 65. The foregoing iiow of current will light the light 58 and cause the electromagnet 26ito attract the armature 42 into dotted line position (Fig. Y5) to urge the solid element 41 into engagement with the strike plate V49. The spring 32, however, continues to ,urge the laterally slidable arm 30" from left to right (Fig. 7) causing the angled end portion 34 to move successively into and out of engagement with each of the notches in theserrated edge of the laterally slidable arm 30, thereby rendering the switch 28 intermittently effective and causingy current to ow through the circuit 64 to induce magnetism in the electromagnet 26, and the light 58 will correspondingly ash on and off and the solid element'41 associated with the electromagnet 26 will move into and out of engagement with the strike lplate II9y in a corresponding intermittent motion.

The lateral projection of the slidable arm 39 will thereupon engage the lower end portion 5| of the resetting lever 3l, and stop the slidable arm fromA further horizontal movement (to the right, Fig. '7). n Y

It is Vto'be noted that the laterally slidable arm 30iis mounted in the dash pot 21, which is of ai The game having thus been played, it becomes necessary to reset the various parts of the dethe openings 11 in the slide panel 2t)` will be in'` vertical lalignment with its corresponding out openings I3, I4 or 59. The balls will thereupon drop onto the return runway 22 and be directed to the elevating device not shown.

The same motion of the slide panel 20 (from left to right Figs. 2 and 7) shifts the angle 54 depending therefrom (full to dotted line position,

Fig. '7.) which in turn will engage the bearing 53 mounted upon the angled end portion of the resetting lever 3| to pivot the latter at 50 from full to dotted line position (Fig. 7). Whereupon lateral offset portion of the slidable arm 30 which is stopped by the end portion 5l of the resetting lever 3| will be urged from right to left (Fig. 7) against the action of the spring 32 until the end portion 44 of the arm 43 is latchingly engaged with the oiset end portion 31 of the slidable arm 30, in the notch A thereof.

While I have given one example of operation it is to be understood. that the procedure may vary as, for example, the person playing the game may choose to complete a group of score openings I4 previous to playing a ball into the master opening so that the series 'I2 is completed before the opening of the switch 60 and thereby cause the unit 24 to be spent in a continuous succession of operations.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modications, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Indicating mechanism for use with game apparatus including a ball-playing board having thereon score and link switches jointly operable by a ball, and a master-ball switch, said mechanism comprising a plurality of electrically operable visual signals and an audible signal including a moving element, some of said visual signals being in circuit with said ball-operated score switches and one of the visual signals being in circuit with said master ball switch and with said audible signal such that the operation of the master switch will cause said one visual signal and said audible signal to be operated together, a normally closed supervisory switch also in circuit with said audible signal, and means for opening the supervisory switch andV including a switch-operating arm, spring means normally urging said arm into switch-operating movement, means on said moving element normally latching said arm against operating movement but operable to release said arm when said audible signal is actuated by the master switch, and a master control switch operable by said arm during its initial movement to connect one of said link switches with a source of power, said link switches being connected in a series of switches and the last one of said series being connected to said audible signal whereby the latter may be operated after rst having been operated by said master ball switch and after said link switches have been operated in predetermined order.

2. A control device comprising switch means including a pair of switch arms, a switch-operating arm, means normally urging said arm into operative engagement with said switch means, said arm having serrations for engagement with one of said switch arms to position the same in operated condition, and said arm having a part engageable with the other switch arm of said pair to urge the same into circuit closing condition when said operating arm is initially moved for operative engagement with said switch means, an electro-magnetic device including a moving element and switch means operable to energize said device, means-on said moving element engageable with said operating arm to latch the same against switch-operating movement but eiective to release said arm when said electro-magnetic device is energized.

3. Signal mechanism for use with game devices having a game switch operated by an instrumentality used in the playing of the game, said mechanism including: an audible signal having a movable element and operable by operation of said game switch, a visual signal switch and visual signal operable thereby, and visual signal switch-operating means in the form of a reciprocable arm movable in one direction to operate said visual signal switch, spring means urging said arm in the direction of operating movement, manual means for restoring said arm back to initial position and tensioning said spring means, and latch mechanism normally latching said arm against switch operating movement and released by said moving element of the audible signal when the latter is actuated, whereby said visual signal may be operated once for each operation of said audible signal.

4. Signal mechanism for game apparatus having a ball-operated switch, said mechanism including an audible signal having a movable sound producing arm and electrical operating means therefor and operable by said ball-operated switch, an electrically operable signal and operating means therefor including a signal switch, an operating arm movable for engagement with said switch to operate the same transiently in steps, manuallytensioned spring means urging said arm in switch-operating movement, and means including a part on said sound producing arm and engageable with said operating arm to latch the latter against operating movement, said part being movable out of latching engagement when said audible signal is actuated.

DAVID C. ROCKOLA. 

